244 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



always aims at the young ones. It does not eat its 

 prey on the spot where it has killed it ; but, when it 

 is not too large, carries it away to its retreat. It 

 also breaks and sucks all the eggs it can meet 

 with ; and, not unfrequently, kills the Hen that 

 attempts to defend them. 



The Weasel is a wild and untractable little 

 animal. When kept in a cage, it seems in a con- 

 tinual state of agitation, is terrified at the sight of 

 every person that approaches to look at it, and 

 hides itself in the wool or hay which is given to it 

 for that purpose. 



It conveys all its food to its hiding-place, and 

 will not touch it till it begin to putrefy. It passes 

 the greater part of the day in sleeping, and usually 

 employs the night in hunting for its prey. 



The female brings forth in the spring, and gener- 

 ally produces four or five at one litter. She pre- 

 pares a bed for them, of straw, leaves, and moss. 

 The young are brought forth blind, but very soon 

 acquire strength enough to follow their dam, and 

 assist in her excursions. They will attack Serpents, 

 Water-Rats, Moles, Field-Mice, &c. : they overrun 

 the meadows, and frequently kill the Partridges, 

 and suck their eggs. 



The motion of the Weasel consists of unequal 

 and precipitant leaps; and in climbing a tree, it 

 makes a considerable spring of some feet from the 

 ground. It jumps in the same manner upon its 

 prey ; and being extremely limber, evades the 

 attempts of much stronger animals to seize it. 



We are told, that an Eagle having seized a 

 Weasel, mounted into the air with it, and was soon 

 after observed to be in great distress. Its little 

 enemy had extricated itself so far, as to be able to 



